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United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-03-18United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSTuesday, 18 March 1997This document is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information and is updated every week-day at approximately 6:00 PM. HEADLINES
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has learned with disappointment and deep concern that despite international appeals, the Israeli authorities have decided to proceed with construction at Abu Ghneim/Har Homa, according to Associate Spokesman of the Secretary- General, Juan Carlos Brandt. "He calls on the parties to do their utmost to find mutually acceptable solutions and proceed with the peace negotiations", the Spokesman said. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General has welcomed the orderly fashion in which Sunday's legislative and municipal elections in El Salvador were conducted. He described the elections as a positive step forward in the consolidation of the peace process in that country, according to the Spokesman. "The United Nations had no formal role in the observation of this process, but is informed that only a few minor irregularities were reported", the Spokesman added. The full deployment and exemplary conduct of El Salvador's National Civil Police, established under the UN Peace Accords, was especially effective in ensuring that no serious incidents occurred, he stated. The Panel of High-Level Personalities on African Development has commended African countries for their continued efforts to assume ownership of their development programmes and for their improved economic performance. In a communique issued at the conclusion of its sixth meeting, the Panel warned that poverty has increased, and called upon African countries to carry out, concurrently with political and economic reforms, social programmes especially targeting the vulnerable groups. Convened by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Panel met at the United Nations Headquarters on 13 March to review the major political and economic developments on the African continent in 1996. It also examined the issues of good governance, and agriculture and food security in the aftermath of the recent World Food Summit. The Panel issued a series of recommendations to stimulate sustained economic growth, including boosting the agricultural sector, diversifying into other productive sectors, gaining improved market access and increased trading opportunities and promoting public savings. Acknowledging that progress had been made in putting in place popularly elected governments, the Panel recommended that good governance go beyond the electoral process to encompass such important elements as civic education, gender mainstreaming, the separation of powers, neutrality of the civil service and the accuracy and timeliness of central statistical information. On the issue of food security, which it recognised as a national responsibility, the Panel urged a two-pronged approach: to increase food supplies and to improve access to food by the majority of the people by the creation of productive employment and an increase in income-earning opportunities. It also urged an emphasis on rural development and infrastructure, including food storage at national and regional levels, water resources and improved productivity. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday appealed to the Authorities and people of Albania to ensure respect for all fundamental rights, in particular the right to life. The Officer-in-Charge of the High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights, Ralph Zacklin, noted that Albania has ratified the six major international human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Reiterating the call for dialogue among the parties, Mr. Zacklin urged the Authorities and people of Albania to live up to their obligations under those conventions and honour the commitment made by Albania to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The rise of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia was increasingly disturbing, the Special Rapporteur on Racism, Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo, told the Commission on Human Rights. Commenting on a report he had submitted earlier to the Commission, Mr. Glele- Ahanhanzo said the problems were gaining ground in almost official way. He noted that blatantly racist political parties were increasing their share of the vote, while openly racist laws were being adopted in some countries. Victims of racial discrimination around the world had their eyes and hopes focused on the United Nations, which could not continue to remain quiet and had to take concrete measures, he added. Following the Special Rapporteur's statement, the representative of the Russian Federation urged the United Nations to fight new forms of racism. He said Russia, as one of the largest multi-national countries in the world, found it vitally important to prevent inter-ethnic hostility and reviewed constitutional changes to that effect. Earlier, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, Ezzedine Laraki told the Commission that the international community must redouble its effort to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said the application of the high standards of human rights asserted in the Dayton agreement would not be possible if war criminals were not brought to justice. Mr. Laraki also called for international support for other Muslim minorities in the territories of the former Yugoslavia as well as for Palestinians and Kashmiris. Between 20 to 50 per cent of women experience some degree of domestic violence during marriage, the Commission on the Status of Women was told as it concluded its general discussion on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. Drawing attention to the increasing violence against women and girls, a representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said such violence affected their health, disrupted their lives, narrowed their choices and destroyed their self-confidence and self-esteem. She also emphasised the fact that the primary victims of today's armed conflict were civilian women and not soldiers. Earlier, the Commission heard that reproductive health was a right for both men and women and no one should be coerced about whether or not they should have children or on how they should space their children. The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Nafis Sadik, said a bruising battle had been fought on the reproductive rights of women in the various United Nations conferences. As a result, a consensus had emerged on the importance of those rights. She, however, said that international agreement was one thing, acceptance was another. The United Nations Board of Auditors should be constituted to better reflect the composition of the General Assembly and enable the participation of different accounting systems, the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China. Addressing the review of United Nations administrative and financial efficiency, in particular the strengthening of oversight mechanisms, the representative also called for immediate action to grant the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) operational and budgetary independence. Also speaking on the Board of Auditors, the representative of Cuba said that the role of the Board vis-a-vis the Office of Internal Oversight Services should be strengthened, with the Board having the power to supervise the Office, especially in cases of fraud or mismanagement. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations(FAO), in its State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, 1996, has reported record fish production, mainly pushed by aquaculture, and said increasing demand for fish could be met through better management despite pressure on top marine fish resources. The report, presented to the biennial meeting of the Organisation's Committee on Fisheries, also urged rehabilitation of degraded resources, further exploitation of under-developed resources, reducing discarding and wastage and avoiding overfishing of resources already at their highest level of sustainable exploitation. Through such measures, the FAO report said, an additional 20 million tons of landings might be obtainable. The report put 1995 fish production at a new record of 112.3 million tons, up from the previous high of 109.6 million tons in 1994. Early indications were that the 1996 output would not represent any significant changes from the 1995 record. Libraries in Armenia and the Republic of Korea have been designated United Nations depository libraries, making them part of an international network of 357 libraries in 147 countries that brings United Nations documents and publications to users around the world. The National Library of Armenia in Yervan and the National Library of Korea in Seoul, Republic of Korea, are the most recent additions to the United Nations system of depository libraries. The designation of depositories is carried out by the United Nations Publications Board. The degree of development of the requesting libraries and the overall geographic distribution of depository libraries in the countries concerned are among the criteria used. For information purposes only - - not an official record From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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